Tricks for Saving Money on Blackfoot Idaho Auto Insurance Rates

Purchasing low-cost Blackfoot auto insurance over the internet is somewhat difficult for beginners to buying insurance on the web. With such a large number of companies in the marketplace, how can anyone possibly compare every company to locate the cheapest rates?

If you currently have car insurance, you will be able to reduce your rates substantially using these tips. This article will help educate you on the best way to quote coverages. But Idaho car owners must comprehend how big insurance companies price online insurance and take advantage of how the system works.

Are you getting all your discounts?

Car insurance can cost a lot, but there are discounts available to help bring down the price. Certain discounts will be triggered automatically at quote time, but a few must be asked about before you get the savings.

Passive Restraint Discount – Factory air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
No Claims – Claim-free drivers pay much less as compared to accident-prone drivers.
Resident Student – Kids in college who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may qualify for this discount.
Paperwork-free – Certain companies give back up to $50 for buying your policy over the internet.
Payment Discounts – If you pay your entire premium ahead of time instead of paying each month you can actually save on your bill.
Seat Belt Usage – Requiring all passengers to wear their seat belts could cut 10% or more off your PIP or medical payments premium.
55 and Retired – If you’re over the age of 55, you may receive reduced rates.
Club Memberships – Participating in a professional or civic organization may earn a discount on auto insurance.

It’s important to understand that most discounts do not apply to the entire cost. The majority will only reduce the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. Even though it may seem like you could get a free auto insurance policy, it just doesn’t work that way. But any discount will reduce the cost of coverage.

For a list of insurers who offer auto insurance discounts in Blackfoot, click this link.

Smart Buyers can Save Money

Smart consumers have a good feel for the factors that come into play when calculating your auto insurance rates. Understanding what influences your rates enables informed choices that could result in better auto insurance rates.

The list below includes a few of the “ingredients” auto insurance companies consider when setting premiums.

Traffic violations increase rates – Your driving citation history has a huge affect on how much you pay. Careful drivers tend to pay less for car insurance compared to drivers with tickets. Just one speeding ticket can boost insurance rates forty percent or more. Drivers who have flagrant citations such as reckless driving, hit and run or driving under the influence may need to file a SR-22 with their state motor vehicle department in order to keep their license.
Rural vs Urban Areas – Being located in less populated areas is a positive aspect when it comes to auto insurance. Fewer drivers means a lower chance of having an accident and also fewer theft and vandalism claims. Drivers who live in large Idaho cities have to deal with more traffic problems and longer commute times. More time on the road can result in more accidents.
Teen drivers pay high rates – Teen drivers in Idaho have a tendency to be careless and easily distracted when behind the wheel so they pay higher auto insurance rates. Older insureds are more cautious drivers, tend to cause fewer accidents and are safer drivers.
Do you need those extra coverages? – There are many extra coverages that you can get tricked into buying on your policy. Coverages like rental car reimbursement, accidental death and membership fees may be costing you every month. They may seem good when talking to your agent, but your needs may have changed so get rid of them and save.
Better credit means lower rates – Credit rating is a large factor in determining your rates. Drivers with high credit scores tend to file fewer claims and have better driving records than drivers with lower credit ratings. If your credit can use some improvement, you could potentially save money when insuring your by repairing your credit.
Being married can save on auto insurance – Having a spouse helps lower the price on your auto insurance policy. Marriage means you’re more mature than a single person and it’s statistically proven that drivers who are married are more cautious.
Sex matters – Statistics show that women are safer drivers than men. However, this does not mean men are worse drivers. Women and men tend to get into accidents at a similar rate, but the male of the species have costlier accidents. Men also tend to get cited for more serious violations such as reckless driving. Young males tend to get in the most accidents and therefore have the most expensive auto insurance rates.

Is there truth in advertising?

GEICO, State Farm and Progressive regularly use ads on television and other media. All the companies have a common claim about savings if you move your policy. But how can every company say the same thing? It’s all in the numbers.

All companies have a certain “appetite” for the right customer that is profitable for them. A good example of a driver they prefer could possibly be over the age of 50, has no tickets, and has a short commute. A driver who meets those qualifications receives the best rates and as a result will probably save quite a bit of money when switching.

Consumers who fall outside the “perfect” profile must pay a more expensive rate and this can result in business going elsewhere. The ad wording is “people who switch” not “everybody who quotes” save that much. That is how insurance companies can claim big savings.

This illustrates why drivers should compare as many rates as you can. Because you never know which insurance companies will fit your personal profile best.

More sites with auto insurance information

Additional auto insurance information is available on the Idaho Department of Insurance website. Click here for link. Consumers can read state legal mandates and laws, learn about specific coverages, and find disaster information.

Compare but don’t skimp

In this article, we presented a lot of tips how to lower your auto insurance rates. The key concept to understand is the more companies you get rates for, the higher the chance of saving money. You may even discover the most savings is with a company that doesn’t do a lot of advertising.

Cheap auto insurance can be bought both online in addition to many Blackfoot insurance agents, so compare prices from both in order to have the best price selection to choose from. Some insurance companies do not provide online quoting and usually these smaller companies provide coverage only through local independent agents.

People change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as unfair underwriting practices, an unsatisfactory settlement offer, not issuing a premium refund and being labeled a high risk driver. It doesn’t matter what your reason, switching auto insurance companies is not as difficult as it may seem.